Day 10: Out of one place comes many religions

We woke up and made our way to the bus.
The first stop of the day was at Trench Town. Trench Town is the basic equivalent to a project system, government owned low income homes. What looks like a small house had 16 rooms, one kitchen, and 4 person bathroom housed 16 families together. Many of Jamaica's famous reggae, ska, and rock steady artists came from Trench Town like Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Peter Tosh, Rita Marley, etc.

Bob Marley's first guitar.

Some parts of Trench Town have been preserved and now are marked as a historical landmark.

Bob Marley's first car and the tour guide Sophia

We saw a typical home and room in the block we were in. Tarta one of Marley's mentors' room was actually preserved at this cultural garden. 

In Tarta's room, Lord, God, Jah (Rasta God)

And we got to see ganga still in plant form. Out of respect for my dad, I did not take a picture with the plant but I took a picture of it. It grows pretty tall and the guide was upset because someone came in and snapped off a branch and it is two feet shorter than what it is supposed to be. 

Ganga. 

This particular center is a cherished place for many of the Rastafarians in the area. You see different people from the community of Rasta at the culture garden and the influence area the garden. 

The lion is the official symbol of Rastafarianism, I can tell you the story in person because it would take too much to typw.

Todays adventure also was taking us to the Jewish Culture center and the synagogue in Kingston.

I went to synagogue a long time ago and I remember it being ornate and gold. We entered the synagogue and it reminded me of New England, tall ceilings, wood (mahogany I think) furnishing. I couldn't believe it, it had a tall steeple point roof.





One interesting thing about this synagogue is that floor is covered in white sand. This is one of five synagogues in the world that has the sand on the ground.

Sand at my feet in the synagogue. 

The sand on the ground is said to have three representations:

1. To quiet down the worship while they we're hiding in basements

2. To remind them of wandering in the desert.

3. The president said that God said the Jews are as pure as sand on a seashore

The synagogue was amazing. We then we went outside and looked at old grade markers. They are usually about body length.

Grave marker

 There was an earthquake that destroyed other synagogues in Kingston. They reburied the bones and then moved the markers to the new current location. They a written in hebrew, Portuguese, English, and Spanish. It was great seeing them and learning about the history of the synagogue.

After the synagogue we went to lunch. Okay okay, I had Burger King and it tastes no different and it was delicious. Just a little taste of home.

After that we moved to the national art gallery.

National Gallery of Jamaica

That was great. I don't like paintings that much but they were great. There was one i loved but couldn't find a print of, it was called Valerie Bloomfield.

Don't think we should have taken pics, but I snuck one in! 

I think that I especially loved the art gallery because I could be alone with the art and experience it in my own way. I felt alone for the first time this trip and it was great getting lost in the Edna Manley carving room. I loved it and the coconut candles. They smelled delicious I should have bought one.

We then headed on the Catholic cathedral Holy Trinity.

Beautiful stained glass. 

Funny aside, the cathedral had a dome and the synagogue had a steeple.
Anywho, we walked in and it was breath taking. It had been a long time since I have seen a Church like that. Just the stain glass and ceiling work alone was just...beautiful.

Blessed Mother 

I haven't felt that reverent in a very long time. I was particularly fascinated by the ceiling art. There was a a picture that God was actually depicted I have never seen anything like that before.

And then there was a mural where all the angles were depicted and it just reminded me of senior year of college reading Paradise Lost and all the angles were trying to fit in the assembly hall.

We then traveled back to Devon house, this time everything was open for business. I found this shop that had wonderful prices and even better products than the little market where we bartered! I went crazy in there and loved it.

And then I went to get ice cream at I Scream...

Coffer and Vanilla double scoop at IScream 

I can't believe it. I ordered a double scoop, one vanilla and one coffee (duh!). It.Was.Huge. And I downed it. So smooth and delicious. And then my stomach turned when I remembered I was lactose intolerant.

For dinner, we went to Red Bones. 

Redbones 

It is a restaurant that Americans created with a blues ambiance.

Garden salad

The price was a little out of my range so I settled for a garden salad, but I tasted the pasta around me and the coconut linguine was delicious!

I know that I love learning about different religions and I will make it a goal to get to India to visit temple. And Holi festival.

It was a great day :)

Graffiti in the streets of Kingston